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Geneva assessing need for new town hall

Photo

Photo by Bill Olmsted

The town of Geneva in Walworth County is starting to explore the possibility of replacing its existing town hall. The age of the building is unknown, but the town’s needs are clearly more than the space allows for.

Photo

Photo by Bill Olmsted

Town of Geneva Administrator Margaret Downing works at her desk in the crowded office space of the existing town hall. The desk in the foreground belongs to the town’s building inspector.

Photo

Photo by Bill Olmsted

Due to restricted space inside the town hall, the Town Of Geneva government is currently storing some records in a rented metal container in the parking lot

GENEVA TOWNSHIP — A new committee is looking at whether the town needs a new municipal building.

"Space is tight," Scott Letteney, chairman of the ad hoc municipal building committee, said about the town hall.

The desks of the administrator, clerk/treasurer and building inspector are a few feet apart, leaving little room for one-on-one meetings with auditors, engineers or residents, said Dan Lauderdale, town chairman.

Town, police and court records have spilled out of desk drawers, file cabinets and a storage room, taking away from what little workspace exists, Lauderdale said. The town recently rented a portable storage unit to house boxes stuffed with important documents, he said.

The building's kitchenette is in the large meeting area, so during town board meetings or municipal court, town employees can't make something to eat or get something to drink without interrupting business, Letteney said.

During important town meetings and big elections, people line up out the door and cars spill out of the parking lot, Letteney said.

The town garages, which are on either side of the parking lot and house highway trucks and squad cars, are cramped and ill designed, Lauderdale said. And there's so little space that some maintenance equipment is stored in a barn at a nearby farm, he said.

"(The town hall) is in dire need of repair and updating," Lauderdale said.

Town officials also are concerned about security, handicapped accessibility and energy efficiency.

Letteney, who is the municipal judge, said the nine-person committee is just beginning its work.

The town conducted a needs assessment last winter and plans to survey municipal employees and customers to get opinions of the existing facility, he said.

"We're gathering information and looking at all possibilities," Letteney said. "Every alternative we can consider, we will consider."

He said that includes recommending the town continue using its existing building, add onto its existing building or build a new building.

"We want to make a meaningful recommendation," Letteney said. "Lots of people look at it and say, 'Oh yeah, we need a new building.' And others say, 'Oh no, that will cost too much money.'

"But those are knee-jerk reactions."

He said the committee wants to take an "honest, rigorous" look at what the town needs and what the town wants before making a well-researched recommendation.